THOUSANDS of fans were poised today to join a mass exodus from Nuneaton to cheer on the town's FA Cup crusaders at Middlesbrough's Riverside stadium.

A motorway convoy of 50 coaches was ferrying 5,000 supporters to the third round replay as Boro's Blue and White Army set off in search of glory.

Hundreds more were heading to the match in a fleet of cars.

If Boro win tonight's match, they will face a dream local derby against neighbours Coventry City at the Ricoh Arena in the fourth round of English football's premier cup competition.

Today's trip to the northeast is the biggest fan migration in Nuneaton Borough's recent history.

"When we played Stoke City in the first round of the FA Cup five years ago, we took 16 coaches from the club, with 10 others," said Mandy Williams, the office manager and ticket co-ordinator at Nuneaton's Manor Park ground. The game was played on a Saturday when people didn't have problems getting time off work and Stoke wasn't that far away from Nuneaton.

"But we estimate there will be 50 coaches going to tonight's game at Middlesbrough. It's a long trip, and people have had to arrange time off work to get there. It really is an amazing turn-out."

She said the ticket office had filled 29 coaches for the tie, and the Borough Independent Supporters' Club was laying on another seven coaches.

Mrs Williams said: "We know of several schools where coaches are being laid on, and several pubs and clubs are putting on coaches, including the wine bar and the sports club in Attleborough, and the Anker Inn at Weddington."

Fans will not be returning from tonight's tie until well past midnight, and Mrs Williams said: "These last few weeks have been really busy for everyone behind the scenes at the club.

"If we win tonight and get through to meet Coventry City, it will mean I probably won't get a day off for at least another fortnight. But this is what the FA Cup is all about. The fans have been magnificent."